Page:Mistral - Mirèio. A Provençal poem.djvu/119

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"Now list! There grows a plant in river Rhone,
Eel-grass⁴ by name," and Master Ambroi's son:
"Two flowers it beareth, each on its own stem,
And a great space of water severs them,
For the plant groweth in the river's bed;
But when the time for wooing comes," he said,

"One flower comes to the surface of the flood,
And in the genial sunshine open its bud.
Whereon the other, seeing this so fair,
Swims eagerly to seize and kiss her there;
But, for the tangled weeds, can she not gain
Her love, till her frail stem breaks with the strain.

"Now free at last, but dying, she doth raise
Her pale lips for her sister's last embrace.
So I! One kiss, and I will die to-night!
We are all alone!" Mirèio's cheek grew white.
Then sprang he, wild-eyed as a lissome beast,
And clasped her. Hurriedly the maid released

Herself from his too daring touch. Once more
He strove to seize,—but ah! my lips, speak lower,
For the trees hear,—"Give over!" cried the girl,
And all her slender frame did writhe and curl.
Yet would he frantic cling; but straight thereafter
She pinched him, bent, slipped, and, with ringing laughter,